A Sharpe question

[Invisible officer]

Well then...I guess I've been put in my place by the forum's Mr. Know-it-all. Guess you better contact Napier, Burnham, and Nafziger and let them know how wrong they are as well.

I guess this will also be my last post on this forum.

Well, Greenjacket wrote that the British faced no cuirassiers in Spain and I supported him by some extra information. Do you realy feel offended by us? Or especially by me? I hope not. It was not intended to offend you. I can only express my apologies.
I based my statement on Oman' volumes and Digby Smith's superb data book.

Please don't stop posting.

[Parus Ater]

Here are three battles from the Peninsular that had Cuirassiers.

Battle of Vimiero - 21st August 1808:

The French cavalry comprised Cuirassiers wearing heavy burnished metal breastplate and crested helmet, Dragoons largely in green, Hussars in the conventional uniform worn by this arm across Europe and Chasseurs à Cheval also dressed as hussars.


Battle of La Coruna or Corunna - 16th January 1809

The French cavalry comprised Cuirassiers wearing heavy burnished metal breastplate and crested helmet, Dragoons largely in green, Hussars in the conventional uniform worn by this arm across Europe and Chasseurs à Cheval also dressed as hussars.


Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro - 3rd to 5th May 1811:

Immediately before the battle, Marshal Bessières brought up a force of 1,700 Guard Cavalry. There was consequently a wide range of cavalry in the French army, Cuirassiers, Dragoons, Hussars, Chasseurs à Cheval and Lancers. The Cuirassiers wore heavy breastplates. The Cuirassiers and Dragoons wore blue uniforms and brass helmets with a long horse hair crest.

For thr record, I've spent the last hour digging around and can't find fault with this information. It all checks out.

[ClausewitzRulesOk]

I'm glad there is some kind of evidence they were used more, because that's a good excuse to use them on the table!

One of the things that attracted me to Napoleonics was the colourful and varied troops, especially the glorious elites.

[Greenjacket]

For thr record, I've spent the last hour digging around and can't find fault with this information. It all checks out.

I'd really like to know where you dug around so we can check it out!

There are detailed orders of battle available in a number of sources (Oman, etc). You can have a look here if you really want:
http://usacac.army.mil/CAC2/CGSC/CARL/n ... 08HSAL.pdf: French Forces at Vimero, 22 August 1808
http://usacac.army.mil/CAC2/CGSC/CARL/n ... 09ASAU.pdf: Soult's Corps at Corunna
http://usacac.army.mil/CAC2/CGSC/CARL/n ... 11ESAH.pdf: French Army at Fuentes de Onoro, 3-5 May 1811 - 3 pgs

No cuirassiers fought the British in the Peninsula. Of course, British troops fought French cuirassiers at Quatre Bras and Waterloo!

[Cubster]

Is some of the confusion due to the renumbering/reorganising of units, or the cuirassiers abandoning the breastplate from time to time?